Method for relaxing wrinkles in fabrics



April 8, 1969 o. T. STEBBINS METHOD FOR RELAXING WRINKLES IN FABRICS Filed Oct. l4, 1966 ama INVENTOR. DAVID T. STEBBINS ax $41031 3;, 0.,

Attorneys United States Patent US. Cl. 8-1492 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fine mist of water with gaseous propellant is discharged onto a fabric article to cause relaxing of Wrinkles.

This invention relates to a method of removing unwanted wrinkles and creases from fabrics such as clothes and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a method of removing wrinkles and creases by spraying on the fabric an aqueous mist which causes relaxation and release thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a method in which the mist is propelled from an aerosol container having means for causing mixture of a portion of a propellant with the mist to cause fine division of particles of liquid in the mist.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a method in which the aqueous mist contains a low molecular weight alcohol which causes rapid drying of the mist from the fabric after the wrinkles have been relaxed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of this type in which the aqueous mist contains a small proportion of a glycol such as propolyene glycol which remains on the fabric for a substantial time after water and the low molecular weight alcohol have evaporated to give a long lasting and residual relaxing effect.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing an aerosol container including wrinkle relaxing mist producing constituents and constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale, a valve actuator thereof being shown in an open position in dot-dash lines; and

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.

In the following detailed description and the drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In the drawing, FIG. 1, is shown an aerosol package constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention and arranged to project a wrinkle relaxing mist. The container includes a cylindrical sheet metal body 12, a bottom panel 13, and an annular top panel 1 4 which are joined together by fluid tight seals and 16. An annular top cap 17 closes the opening in the top panel 14 and supports valve mechanism 18. The container holds a charge of liquid aqueous concentrate 19 and a charge of liquid propellent 21 over which is gaseous propellent 22. The propellent is preferably a hydrocarbon propellent such as isobutane but can be another hydrocarbon propellent or another propellent such as one of the halogenated propellents known as Freons. The liquid aqueous concentrate can be chiefly Water and can contain a portion of a low molecular weight alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol and a small portion of a glycol such as propylene alcohol. The concentrate can also contain other materials such as ketones such as acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone, if desired. When the valve member is open, pressure of the propellent inside the container drives liquid concentrate up a dip tube 23 to a hollow valve body 24. A valve actuator 26 in the valve body is normally in the closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 in which an annular shoulder 27 on the valve actuator 26 engages a resilient washer 28 to close the valve mechanism. A compression spring 29 resiliently urges the valve actuator to closed position. However, when the valve actuator 26 is depressed to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 2, the shoulder 27 comes free of the washer 28 and a transverse bore 31 in a neck 32 of the actuator is exposed to the interior of the valve body and fluid from the interior of the valve body can enter an axial bore 33 in the neck of the actuator to pass to a cavity 34 in a finger piece 36 mounted on the neck 32 of the valve actuator 26. The valve body 24 and the washer 28 are held in assembled relation by the cap 17. A shoulder 37 of the cap is engaged by the washer 28. An inwardly directed rib 38 on a neck portion 39 of the cap 17 engages an outwardly directed rib 41 on the body 24. A side opening 42 in the valve body 24 permits entry of gaseous propellent to mix with the liquid concentrate which enters the body from the dip tube 23.

The interior of the finger piece 36 is constructed to provide a tortuous course for concentrate and propellent leaving the neck 32 to cause intimate mixing thereof. From the cavity 34, the fluids pass through a channel 44 into an annular slot 46. A plug 47 is mounted in the slot 46. The plug 47 includes a disc 48 having a central opening 49 and a skirt 51 which is mounted in the slot 46. As shown in FIG. 3 portions of the slot 46 are sufliciently narrow to grip and hold the skirt 51 while other portions as shown in FIG. 2 are wider to permit fluids to pass along the slot around a pillar portion 53 of the finger piece 36 and along channels 54 in the plug to the opening 49 through which the fluids are projected in a mist.

The mist is projected onto a fabric such as a suit coat or the like having wrinkles, and the mist penetrates the fabric to cause relaxing of the Wrinkles. However, the water and alcohol of the mist evaporate rapidly to leave the fabric dry to the touch but with the wrinkles relaxed. The glycol can remain longer on the fabric to give an extended relaxing effect.

In the following detailed description, all parts and percentages are given by weight.

The charge in the container can be approximately 92 /z% concentrate and 7' /2% propellent, but greater or lesser proportions of propellent can be used as long as sufficient propellent is employed to discharge substantially all the contents of the container. Preferably, the propellent is isobutane, which gives very satisfactory results, but other propellents such as other hydrocarbon propellents and Freon propellents can be used.

The concentrate can be water, but preferably the concentrate is water containing a low molecular weight alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol. Preferably, the concentrate includes approximately 8 to 10% isopropyl alcohol. The remainder can be water or can additionally contain a small amount of a glycol such as propylene glycol, approximately 1% of propylene glycol being preferred. The preferred concentrate includes 9% isopropyl alcohol, 1% propylene glycol, /2% acetone, /z% methyl isobutyl ketone, and a trace of triethanolamine, the remainder being water.

Various modifications of the concentrate can be made and the invention is not intended to be limited except as set forth in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of relaxing wrinkles in a fabric which comprises projecting a mist of Water from an aerosol container onto the fabric, the water containing a low molec- 3 ular weight alcohol, and mixing gaseous propellent with the mist as the mist is discharged to cause fine division of the mist.

2. A method as in claim 1 in which the alcohol is isopropyl alcohol.

3. A method as in claim 1 in which the alcohol is isopropyl alcohol and the water contains propylene glycol.

4. A method as in claim 1 in which the alcohol is isopropyl alcohol and the water contains approximately 8% to 10% isopropyl alcohol and 1% propylene glycol by 10 weight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

